Continually evolving changes and advances in avian veterinary medicine have lead to changing and evolving diagnostic approaches towards laboratory testing the clinically normal as well as the obviously ill avian patient. These advances have come from controlled scientific studies, primarily from universities and from careful data collection and assessment by astute clinicians. Zinc toxicosis testing and diagnosis is included in this continually changing arena in avian medicine. As a general rule, avian practitioners must be particularly careful when using diagnostic tests, which are based primarily on testimonials rather than . . . → Read More: Zinc Toxicosis: Separating Fact from Fiction

Zinc is a frequent cause of illness and death in psittacines. According to the statement of the University of Munich Avian Department they have a parrot with zinc poisoning present in their waiting room at any given time. That is how frequently it occurs. Sadly, oftentimes chronic zinc poisoning goes undetected. Chronic zinc poisoning occurs from ingestion of minute amounts of zin over a long period or time, such as from using the beak as a climbing aid while getting around aviary or cage wires. Veterinarians – even those specialized on birds – to not routinely test for chronic zinc . . . → Read More: Zinc Poisoning in Parrots – Article Collection